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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Unto a fly transformed from human kind
Language: English 
Unto a fly transformed from human kind,
   Methought I ranged on a sunshine day, 
When, for to ease my sad afflicted mind, 
   Upon my mistress’ robe I ‘gan to play.
At length I mounted up at her dainty breast 
From whence I sought my solace and my rest.

Yet ,not content with these aspiring toys, 
   Changing my seat into her curlèd hair, 
By seeking to increase my new-found joys,
   I turned my sweet applause to sudden fear,
For, chancing on her eyes of flame and fire, 
I burnt my wings whereby I did aspire. 

Thus falling to the ground in my decay, 
   With mournful buzzings craving her relief, 
Methought she mourned with ruth my heavy lay,
  And crushed me with her foot to end my grief, 
And said; Lo, where the silly wretch doth lie,
Whose end was such because he flew so high. 

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by John Bartlet (flourished 1606-1610), "Unto a fly transformed from human kind", published 1606 [ vocal quartet for soprano, alto, tenor, bass with lute ], from A booke of Ayres with a Triplicitie of Musicke, no. 13, Confirmed with A booke of Ayres with a Triplicitie of Musicke by John Bartlet, Printed by John Windet, for John Browne and are to be sold at his shop in Saint Dunstan's Churchyard in Fleet Street, London 1606. [sung text checked 1 time]

Researcher for this page: Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2024-11-21
Line count: 18
Word count: 144

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